Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-09-21
1RITISH FEDERATION
The Leading Statesman OF New Zea-
land Says Ii Will BE Necessary.

Sir William FitZherbert, prominent
colonial statesman, arrived in San Fran
cisco, Cal, enroute for New Zealand
recently. Sir William is the Speaker
or the Legislative Assembly of New
Zealand, and his mission to England
was that of delegate to the Colonial
Conference, which took place in Lon
don some months past. Few New Zea-
land statesmen have had a public
career of so much distinction as Sir
William FIJZherbert. He came to the
colonies in the very early days, and has
since occupied almost every ofice of
prominence in the gift of the people.
Before the Capitalization of govern
ment in New Zealand he was elected
to the superintendency OF the province
or New Zealand, and since that time
has taken Office in several ministries,
latterly being Speaker of the House of
Representatives. On his elevation to
the Upper House he was unanimously
chosen Speaker of that body, his acute
ness, together with his absence OF bias
and knowledge of men and affairs
throughout the colony, particularly fit
ting him for the position. Though Sir
William Is by no means a young man,
his mind retains its pristine vigor un-
impaired.
WAS any system of federation for
mulated at the conference?" asked the
reporter.
Federation ITSELF" SAID Sir VII.
liam, was not spoken OF. The purpose
OF the conference was really to draw
closer the bonds of union between the
mother ceuntry ssrs- rs-1f-r--stv-,-s--s
promote an exchange of views upon
questions of mutual interest / was
surprised. however, to find that Eng
lish public opinion in reference TO colo
NAL matters has undergone. of late, an
entire change. y change, indeed,
which can only be described as. a COM
plete revolution of feeling, On a pre-
yious occasion, some years back, L was
called to England on colonial business,
and found prevailing there the pro-
foundest ignorance regarding matters
colonial. l suggested at that time"
said Sir William, with a quiet smile,
THAT the Londoners, instead OF spend
ing their vacations on the Mediter-
ranean, should make 1t their business
| TO visit the country's dependencies IN
| the South Seas
/ The Australian colonies" con-
/ tinued Sir William, ''are a large and
growing power. Within the few years
of their existence they have attained
surprising strength. They offer the
| best solution for the problem of over
population, for III their vast extent
there is room for millions Of people. {"
"What changes would be involved, :"
asked the reporter. .'In the systems of
colonial government were federation
/ adopted?'
THAT was a question which was not
touched upon. The conference, you
know, was merely preliminary-a
clearing the way for after-action. The
| views expressed by my fellow-dele-
gates, together with the expressions of
opinion from the many prominent
Englishmen with whom L spoke. made
me see the question of federation in
another light. Impressed by their ar
gumentS / became a member of the
League and will now do all i'll my
power to bring about its objects. The
idea of federation and the problem as
TO how it may be successfully applied
seems to me the greatest problem now
before humanity. You Americans
have solved il with an extraordinary
degree of success. Il remains for us to
agree upon some method by which we
will be secured the highest measure OF
local se.f-government with the greatest
degree of supreme central authority.
That is what we want. We in the colo.
MES are agreed upon the necessity OF
such measures. Their application will
follow in due course.''